ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
Fed up with waiting for the next wave of ska to arrive, an aging Betoota Heights rude boy took it upon himself buy a trumpet this afternoon.
By day, Maxwell David (44) leads the capital markets team at the IMA Minthurst Poonz Betoota and by night, he kicks off his Oxfords and pulls on a pair of checkerboard Vans.
He did just that last night.
The Cat Empire played the Dolphins Leagues Club on Monday night and it was a ‘fucking vibe’ according to the 44-year-old.
“They didn’t just play all the hits, they played heaps from their back catalogue,” he said.
“Real Momba Festival shit. I had a good bop. They brought the house down with a cover of Smashmouth’s ‘Walking On The Sun’. I’ve put my knees out getting my crump on to that!”
One thing about the show did bother him, however.
“We don’t get many ska bands through Betoota anymore. The French Quarter used to have one of the biggest scenes in the country. Sydney has the drill rap and bands that sound like Sticky Fingers, Adelaide had the Skip-Hop. Perth is home to whatever you call the music on Spinning Top. Brisbane has Gold Coast Corridor Post-Grunge Garage and Melbourne has, ah, something,” he sighed.
“I want to bring Ska back to Betoota. So I took the first steps and bought a trumpet. Seeing the Cat Empire last night inspired me to be proactive about it.”
Maxwell said he plans to one day start his own ska band, whenever that day may be.
The Advocate’s editor, Dr Clancy Overell SC OAM, was once the bongo player of The Betoota Rudemen Band until a stroke left him with limited movement in his right hand and an inability to distinguish green from red.
He wishes Maxwell all the best in his endeavours.
More to come.